Page 28 of Wishing for Love

“I’ve got a handle on it,” he said.

“You say that, but it’s not just you anymore. Swallow your pride. Everyone knows how hard you work. Asking for help isn’t the end of the world. We all need it at times.”

He didn’t need that reminder. “I’ll get your money back to you soon.”

“Don’t go there,” his father said. “You know damn well that isn’t what this is about. It never was. I want the best for you. And if the best means you’ve got to ask for help, then you should. End of story.”

“It’s hard to do that,” he said. “I don’t need someone telling me I’m doing it all wrong.” Even if he felt like that was the case.

“Do you think that would happen?” his father said. “What you’re doing with the recycled plastic is a great thing. On a number of levels. But maybe you’re missing something that someone else could point out.”

“I know,” he said. “I get it. I’m trying to make something fun out of that. Everyone always says science is boring.”

Something he’d dealt with most of his life. If they didn’t think what he was studying or doing for a living was boring, they thought he was because he was so fascinated with it all.

Could be why he was single too.

Nah, he wouldn’t think of those things. It’s not like he had much time either.

He focused so much on this process and when it finally worked, he ran with it. He felt like he’d succeeded where others had failed and he beat many to the punch.

“You have to be you,” his father said. “Not sure how many times I have to tell you that.”

“I hear it enough,” he said. “Anything else to report? Any family updates?”

“Well, Braylon is dating someone pretty seriously. Not sure if you heard that.”

“No,” he said. “I’m surprised Mom didn’t bring it up.”

“She is probably more focused on everything else going on in your life. I don’t think she’s said much to anyone other than your siblings about Elsie and Maryn.”

“It doesn’t matter,” he said. “It’s not a secret. It shouldn’t be.”

“I know,” his father said. “But you don’t like getting a ton of phone calls either and people asking if you’re fine or need help.”

“No one has called,” he said. Or not much. His siblings had all shown up for the funeral and he expected that. They reached out via text too to check in on him but not much more. None of his siblings lived that close and they were all figuring their lives out too.

He really wouldn’t say he was close to any of them. The three youngest were finishing school or in school. Not much they could do and he talked to them the least. Dallas and Bronx were five years younger and, being part of triplets, had that bond. Siena was close with her brothers but found a greater bond with London and Paris. But both of them were out of the country traveling for work.

“They are all there if you need them,” his father said.

“I know,” he said. “But I’m good.”

“Glad to hear it,” his father said. “One more thing I wanted to talk to you about.”

He knew where this was going. The trial for the woman who hit Maryn would be starting soon. Janet Silver was driving under the influence of sleeping meds and ran a red light and killed Maryn.

The woman might go to jail because she was struggling to sleep and took medication improperly and then had allergy meds mixed with it while she battled a cold.

Not his problem. His best friend died and now he was raising a five-year-old.

Could it have been any person just trying to get some sleep and battling a cold and making a mistake? Yep, it could have been.

It didn’t change the facts.

“I’m not going to speak at the trial,” he said. “I was asked and declined. It’s out of my hands. I’m torn over this.”

“I know,” his father said. “It’s the right thing. People make mistakes in life, but this one had deadly consequences.”